Gabbard supports Congressional resolution on Diwali stamp

Washington: Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu to be elected to the US House of Representatives joined her Congressional colleagues to co-sponsor a resolution to issue a US postal stamp on Diwali.

“The Diwali festival honors self-awareness, righteousness, and service to others before ourselves,” said Gabbard, the first Hindu-American to serve in the US Congress.

“This yearly festival is a time to celebrate the triumph of goodness and truth, and to reflect on the year. It is only appropriate that we commemorate this widely observed holiday and its place in our nation’s rich tapestry of religious and cultural diversity,” she said.

The resolution calls on the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, an entity of the US Postal Service, to issue a Diwali stamp, as it has done for other popular religious celebrations in the United States such as Christmas, Eid, Kwanzaa, and Hannukah.

Last week, three lawmakers, including Indian American Dr Ami Bera, along with Carolyn B Maloney and Grace Meng had introduced the resolution in the House of Representative for issuing of commemorative stamp on Diwali.

Meaning row of lights, Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil, the awareness of one’s inner light, the dispelling of ignorance, and bringing peace and joy through the awakening gained from this higher knowledge,? Maloney said in her remarks on the House floor.

“But despite the significance of this holiday, the United States Postal Service has yet to merit Diwali with the same recognition as other major religious holidays for which stamps are issued such as Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Eid,” Maloney said.

“As one of the world’s oldest religious holidays, Diwali has survived political, economic and social changes throughout history, while always carrying the universal symbolism of the victory of light, goodness, knowledge and truth.

“It is long overdue that we honour this significant holiday with a postage stamp of its own,” she said.

“Mr Speaker, I rise today to introduce the House Resolution Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Citizens? Stamp Advisory Committee, as an entity of the United States Postal Service, should issue a commemorative stamp in honour of the holiday of Diwali. I am proud to be joined in this effort by my colleagues Congresswoman Grace Meng and Congressman Ami Bera,” Maloney said.